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Coin and Paper Money Collecting/Seated Liberty Silver Half Dollar
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Question
I have Seated Liberty Silver half dollar with a New Orleans mintmark but someone has ground off the obverse face and hand carved filigree around the edge and placed someone’s name or initials in the center. I would really love to know if there was a period in history when it was common and what the purpose was. Did civil war solders give them to their loved ones?
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Hi Dan:
Thanks for your question.
It was common in the 1800's for a friend/lover to polish the back of a silver coin and engrave it with the initials of the loved one. They became known as "love tokens". Love tokens are generally defined as coins on which one side (or sometimes both sides) has been smoothed down and engraved with initials, names, phrases and/or scenes. The more common coin of choice was the seated dime, but they are found on half dimes, quarters, half dollars, and a host of world coins from the same era. Depending upon the quality and detail of the engraving, some are quite valuable to collectors. For some examples, see: http://www.kenbarr.com/lovetokens.html
The Love Token Society is an international organization of love token enthusiasts. More information on the society can be found on their website at
http://www.lovetokensociety.org
The standard reference work on love tokens is "Love Tokens as Engraved Coins" by Lloyd L. Entenmann, privately published, 1991.
You may want to check US coins and currency listings under exonumia or love tokens on eBay from time to time to see if your piece is listed what this type of item may bring.
If you live close to a local shop, they should offer an opinion as to the value at no charge. Always try and get at least two opinions and try and deal with PNG dealers if possible. If you should decide to sell your items to a dealer, remember they will offer about 50% to 60% of the retail value. Here's a link to find one in your area: http://www.pngdealers.com/dealersearch.php
Please remember to go to the experts site to rate this answer. Check the nomination box on the rating page below any comments you may have.
Thank You and Good Luck in your collecting.
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| Comment | I love the fact Ronald’s answer just don’t say sorry your coin is a fake. His answer was informative and tempered with guarded encouragement. He gave me instructions for testing the coin and options and leads to find additional information. Ron writing has a friendly and mentoring tone, it nice for me as a novice coin collector. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
Ronald Fern
Expertise
I can answer most all questions relating to US coins, tokens, and currency. I'm not strong on world coins or ancients. Primary field of expertise is errors and varieties. Over 55 years experience in coin collecting. Part time dealer since 1976. Employed by McDonnell Douglas/Boeing for over 34 years as an Industrial Engineer/Technical Specialist before retiring in 2002.
Experience
Worked weekends for "Lonesome" John in the late 1960's to mid 1970's processing error coins, packaging, and preparing orders. Worked with John Devine and Fred Weinberg on several California Error A Rama's in the early 1970's. Served as display judge at annual Error-A-Rama coin shows. Opened and operated mail order coin business DBA "CAL ERRORS" in 1976. Contributer to Alan Herbert's "Official Price Guide To Mint Errors" and Fivaz/Stanton "Cherrypickers' Guide". Worked Saturdays at Huntington Beach Coin Exchange 1980-1999. Had table and sold coins at a number of coin and gun shows in So CA, AZ and NV. Sell coins, tokens and currency currently at my space in the Pomona Antique Center. Past "Errorscope" Editor. Presently CONECA Examiner.
Organizations
ANA, CONECA, CWTS, NLG
Publications
Errorscope, Numismatic News, Civil War Token Journal, Error and Variety News
Education/Credentials
AA Degree LBCC pre Engineering, 1964
BS Degree CSULB Ind Technology, 1968
Awards and Honors
1st Place EAR Trophy for Civil War Token Errors, NLG Author of Year Award for best monthly coin column "Error News and Views" in small Numismatic paper, owned and published by Ray Anthony.
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